Well tool



Aug. 19, 1941.

lA. L. ARMENTROUT WELL TOOL Filed March 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. L.ARMENTROUT WELL Toon Filed March 6, 1959 F I I l It.

2 WY y 5 wm w f M Ww Patented `ug. 1 9-, 1941 Anninr.. Armencrout, LosAngel, cuf., mi. or oi' one-third to Elwin B. Hall and one-third toVirgil P. Baker I Application March 6, 1939,. Serial No. 260,025

11 Claims.

-This invention relates to a well tool and relates more particularly toa tool useful in removing sand bridges and accumulations of sand, shale,etc., from wells. 1

In producing oil wells, and the like, sand and other solidmatter'accumulates in the well bores and iorms what are known as sandbridges. These sand bridges interfere with the flow of the iiuid beingproduced and often completely closev oilf the bores to stop production.

A generalobject of this invention is to provide a simple, practical andeil'ective tool for breaking down, drilling through, and removing sandbridges in wells.

Another object of this invention is to provide a-tool of the charactermentioned that is operable to effectively and quickly drill through andbreak down a sand bridge in a well.

Another object of this invention is to provide a .tool of the charactermentioned that is operable to carry away or to provide for the washingaway of the loosened solid matter of the sand bridges. Another object ofthis invention is to provide a tool of the character mentioned thatV maybe operated either on a cable'or a string of pipe and that is operableto drill through and break down the sand bridges by a reciprocatorymotion of the cable or pipe.

Another object of this invention is to provide.

a tool of the character mentioned embodying novel means for imparting animpact or blow to the drilling v`element or cutting head to quicklyVdrill away or break down the sand bridge.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool of the charactermentioned that embodies a pump means operable to draw or pump the freedsand, etc., into a tubular string, container or bailer body for removalfrom the well.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool of the charactermentioned in which the pump means is operated simultaneously with thecutter. head, that is, the reciprocation of the operatingr string orline actuates the pump means as well as the means for imparting thedrilling blows to the cutting head.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tool of the charactermentioned that is simple to operate and that is positive and dependableinA operation.

The various objects and features .of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of typical preferredforms and applications of my invention throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig-1 is a side elev on of one form of tool of the present inventionshowing the cutter head and adjacent partsin position in a well liner.Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal detailed sectional view ofthe lowereportion oi the tool illustrated in Fig'. 1 withthe cutterdaeadin eleration, showing the parts in their normal or initial positions.Fig. 3 is an enlarged central longitudinal detailed sectional view ofthe upper portion of the tool illustrated in Fig. 1 with certain partsin elevation. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the cutter headand stem in elevation showing the parts being actuated to provide animpact. Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse detailed sectional views taken asindicated by lines 5--5 and 8 8, respectively, on Fig. 4. Fig. 'I isaside elevation of another form or application of the invention withcertain partsin longitudinaicross section and illustrating the impactmeans in an actuated condition, and Fig.' 8 is a transverse detailedsectional view taken as indicated by line l-l on Fig. '1. l

The form of the present invention illustrated inFigs. 1 to 6, inclusive,of the drawings may be.

said to comprise, generally, a cutter head l0, means Ii operable toimpart an impact action to the head I0, and pump means-I2 for handling.the material loosened by lthe cutter head l 0.

The cutter head lli is provided to cut free and drill through a sandbridge or accumulation o1' sand, shale. or the like, that may be presentin a well bore or a well liner. Thus, as illustrated inFlg. 1 of thedrawings, the head I0 is operable to break away and drill through thesand bridge B within the well liner L. The head I0 is proportioned tooperate freely in the well bore or the well liner L and is designed todrill by a percus- Y sive action. In the structure illustrated thecutting head l0 is a generally cylindrical member provided .on its lowerend with cutting teeth i3. 'Ihe teeth I3 may be varied considerably inform.

In the construction illustrated the teeth I3 are generally. V-shaped inside elevation and are arranged in an annular row or series. The cuttinghead 0is provided with an upwardly projecting stem- Il. The stem I4 maybe formed integral ,with the head l0 and is of less diameter than thehead. The cutting' head structure istubular, there being a centralvertical opening l5 extending from the lower end ofthe head I0 to the iupper end of the stem Il.

The means Il for imparting an impact action to the cutting head I0 is afeature of the invention. 'I'he means I i is operable by reciprocationof awell string such as a. string of Apipe or tubing, or a cable, toimpart downward blows to the cuttingheaddii that the latter loosens,breaks down and drills through the sand bridge B in the liner L. In thepreferred construction illustrated the means II includes a shell .orbody. i6 shiftable or reciprocable relative to the stem I4 of the headII). The body I6 is a tubular member and telescopes downwardly over thestem i4 with lsuitable clearance. The major portion of the stem Ibi thatis received in the body it is reduced in diameter toleave an annularspace in the body. An adapter I1 is threaded in the upper end of thetubular body it. The adapter i1 is provided to connect the pump means i2with 'the means |I and has a central Vertical opening IB for handlingthe pumped material. The body I6 is connected or associated with thestem I4 for limited longitudinal movement. Spaced vertical grooves I9may be provided in the lower portion of the stem i4 and se't screws 20may be threaded through openings in thewall of the body I6 to cooperatewith the grooves I9 to connect the body I 9 andthe stem I 4 for relativelongitudinal movelment.

The means Ii further includes a weight element or hammer element 2| inthe body i6.

The hammer element 2i is a tubular part shift-- ably surrounding thereduced portion of the stem I4 with suitable clearance. ment 2| is ofsubstantial length and of substantial wall thickness to haveconsiderable weight.

The hammer element 2i is adapted to jar or hammer downwardly against animpact shoulder or anvil shoulder 22 on the stem ill. The shoulder 22 isannular and is spaced above the grooves I9 to'be within the body I6 whenthe parts are in their initial positions. f

A novel latch means or releasable holding means is provided to initiallyhold the hammer element 2| against downwardk movement in a position somedistance above the anvil shoulder 22. This releasable holding meanscomprises a latch block 23 arranged in an opening or window 24 .in thewall of the tubular hammer element 2|. The latch block 23 is curved orpartially circular and is shiftable radially in the window 24., Theblock 23 shiftably engages against the upper and lower walls of thewindow 24 and may engage against the vertical end walls of the window.In practice the latch-block 23 may be oi approximately 180 in extent. Anupwardly facing annular'shoulder 25 is provided on the stem |4 and isengageable by the lower side of the latch block.23. The engagement ofthe latch block 23 with the shoulder 25 releasably holds the hammerelement 2| against downward travel relative to the stem. A leaf spring26 is secured in a recess in the hammer element 2| and projectsdownwardly into the window 24 to bear inward` ly against the latch-block23. The spring 26 is operable to yieldingly hold the block 23 in thepositionwhere it cooperates with the shoulder 25.

The means for releasing the block 23 from theV shoulder 25 comprises atube 21 `threaded in the lowerend of the adapter I1 and projectingdownwardly in the body I6. The lower portion oi' the 'tube 21 initiallyor normally enters the tubular weight element 2| and theflower end ofthe tube has a tapered face 28 cooperable with the latch block 23. Theupper inner part of the latch block 23 has a tapered surface 29engageable by the surface 28. It will be seen how engagement of thesurface 28 with the surface 29 operates to disengage the latch block 23fromthe shoulder .25. The spring 26 operates to normally hold Inpractice the elethe latch block 23 in a position where. it projects fromthe inner surface of the tubular hammer element 2| so that its surface29 is engageable by the surface 2B of the tube 21.

, Spring means is provided to drive the hammer element 2| downwardlyagainst the anvil shoulder 22 when the latch block 23 is released fromthe shoulder 25. The spring means for actuating the hammer element 2| issuch that it stores energy. resulting from downward movement of the bodyIt with respect to the stemIB, and operates to drive the element 2|against the anvil shoulder 22 with substantial force. The means foractuating `the hammer element 2| comprises a helical spring 39 arrangedunder compression between the lower end of the adapter I1 and the upperend of the hammer element 2|. The spring 3U has substantial strength andis adapted to drive the element 2 I downwardly with great force.enclosed in the body I6 and is protected by theJ tube 21 as well as thebody. When the body IIS is moved downwardly relative to the stem 1N thespring 3i! is put under increased compression and the energy `thusstored in the spring 30 operates to drive the element 2| downwardlyagainst the anvil shoulder 22 when thesurface 23 cooperates with .thesurface 29 to release the latch block 23 from the shoulder 25.

Means is provided for resetting or restoring the hammer element 2| whenvthe body I8 is raised at the completion of eachl operation of the meansvli I. An Aannular internal shoulder 3| is provided on the body IB andis adapted to engage upwardly against the lower endof thc hammer element2 I. When the body I6 is raised after the means li has'been operated theshoulder 3i picks up the element 2i and returns it to its initialposition where the block 23 moves. into cooperation with the shoulder 25under the action of the spring 2S. During downward movement of the bodyi t relative to the stem i@ when the means II is being actuated ltheshoulder 3| moves downwardly away from the element 2l and passes belowthe impact shoulder 22 before the block 23 is released. Accordingly, thehammer element 2| strikes the impact or anvil shoulder 22 and does notstrike the resetting shoulder 3|.l The opening I5, the tube 21 and theopening I8 serve to conduct the mud, sand, fluid, etc.,v upwardly to thepump means I2 and the inven- 1 tion preferably provides means forsealing betweenthe stem I4 and the tube 21. The upperA reduced portion'ofthe stem I4 enters the tube 21 and carries packing 32 which sealswith the inner wall of the tube. Alshiftable gland or follower 33vengages downwardly against the packing 32. Means may be provided toassist in re;

turningthe stem I4 and the body I6 to their -initial or extendedpositions following the actua.-

packing under compression.

The pump means I2 operates to remove or pump away the solid matterloosened or drilled free by the cutting head I0 during operation o! thehead and the means II. The pump means I2 may be varied considerablywithout departing from 'the broader aspects of the invention. In theembodiment of the invention illustrated the It will be observed that thespring 30 is 1 the -inner surface of the Vbarrel 31.

` the barrel 31 and receives or passes the plunger 38 with suitableclearance. A head 48 on the upper end of the plunger 38 has sealing cups4I or other suitable sealing means cooperating with The upper end of theplunger head 40gis provided with a valve to control the passage of fluidthrough the plunger. In the case illustrated this valve comprises a cage42 on the head 40 and a ball 43 in the cage operable to prevent adownward flow or a return flow through the plunger 38. It may be desiredto provide a valve 44 in the stem opening I5 to assist in preventing areturn ilow through they stem and to prevent the settlement' oi' thesolid matter being pumped. The valve 44 may be a simple pivoted valveadapted to'seal the tube 21. `The body I8 moves downwardlyto compressthe spring until the surface 28 of the tube 21 cooperates with thesurface 29 to retract the block 23 'from the shoulder 25. When thisoccurs the hammer element 2I is freed from the stem I4 and the spring 30moves or drives the element 2| downwardly to strike the anvil shoulder22 with substantial force. The blow thus imparted -to the shoulder 22drives the cutting head I0 downwardly against or into thevsand bridge B.'I'he teeth I3 of the head I0 cut free or drill into the bridge B.

The operating line 5I is raised immediately following actuation of theymeans II to reset the means II and to operate the pump means I2.

. Upward movement of the line 5I of course causes downwardly against anannular seat on the wall of the opening I5.

The barrel 31 of the pump means I2 may be carried by or may be connectedwith a container 48 for receiving and holding the pumped material. Inthe construction illustrated the container 48 is an elongate upwardlyextending'integral continuation of the pump barrel 31. Valve means isprovided to control communication between the pump barrel 31 and thecontainer 38. An annular internal flange or valve seat 48 is provided atthe upper end of the barrel 31 and a pivoted valve 49 is adapted to sealdownwardly against the seat 48 to prevent a return ilow of the pumpedmaterial from the containerv 48 to Athe barrel 31. A bail 50 may beprovided on the upper end of the container 48 and the operating cable orline 5I maybe secured to the bail 50. The upper end of the nut 39 isengageable with the lower end of the plunger head 40 to limit upwardtravel of the barrel 31 relative to the plunger 38 so that upwardmovement may be transmitted from the line 5I to thebody I8 to .restoreor reset the means II after each operation of the same. The lower end ofthe nut 39 may engage the upper end of the adapter I1 so that the weightof the barrel 31 and the associated parts may be .transferred to thebody I8.

In employing the tool of the present invention the tool may be loweredinto the well on the line 5I to enter the liner L.y With the parts intheir initial or normal positions the block 23 cooperates with theshoulder 25 to hold the hammer element 2| in its raisedposition. Whenthe tool has reached the position where the head I0 lis in engagementwith the sandv bridge B the opbody I8. This may follow the downwardmovement 'of the barrel 31 just described. The spring upward movement ofthe barrel 31 relative to the plunger 38. This upward stroke of the-bar#rel 31 draws or pumps a charge of the fluid, sand, shale, etc., into thebarrel 31. It will be observed that this pumping action takes placeimmediately following the actuation of the cutting head I8 so that thematerial loosened by the cutting head is immediately drawn or pumpedinto the barrel 31. The nut 39 engages the plunger head 48 at' the upperend of the pumping stroke and transmits upward movement to the plunger38. Upward movement of the plunger 38 is accompanied by upward movementof the body I8. As

described above, the shoulder 3| iengages andv picks up the hammerelement 2| to return the element to its initial position during theupward movement of the body I8. The spring 28 re stores the block 23 toits active position in engagement with the shoulder 25 when the element2i reaches its normal position.

. 'I'he above operations may be`repeated until the sand bridge B iscompletely broken down or drilled away. The means II and the pump vmeansI2y are *operated concurrently or simultaneously by a simplereciprocation of the operating line 5I. The sand, shale. etc., loosenedor drilled away by the tool is removed from the well in' theV container48 when the tool is withdrawn from the well. y

Figs. v'7 and 8 of the drawings illustrate another form and vapplicationof the invention. In the tool illustrated in FigsJ? anda of the drawingswater or other fluid may be pumped down through the 'tool duringitsperation to'carry away the material loosened or'drilled out by the`cutting head I0. vA tubular well string 'suchas a string of `tubing Tmay be employed to oper' ate the tool and to conduct. the circulationiluid IiI 38 is compressed as the body I8 moves downwardf 1y anddownward movement of the body is, of

` course, accompanied by downward movement of to the tool. Thecuttinghead I8 and the means II may be the sameas 'in the previously de scribedform of thel invention. The body I8 o f the means II is provided at itsupper end with anadapter I1"corresponding generally to the adapter I1.yThe lower end of the operating and circulating ystring of 4tubing T maybe Ithreaded in 'the adapter I1* to connectthe 4tool withrthe tubing' T.

In the operation of the tool illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 of thedrawings the tool may be run into the well to the-sand bridge on thestring of 4tubing VT. Fluid mayA be lcirculated down through the tubingT to discharge at the cutting head llll to flush or' wash away the sandbridge.

If it is found that the sand bridge -is not re-` moved in this mannerthe string of tubing T cutting head yIII operates to breakl `freeor"drill" through the sand bridge. During this operation or followingthis operation, or both, fluid may be pumped down through the string oftubing T to discharge at the cutting head i0. This fluid'returns throughthe well casing to the uppervend of the well and carries awayithe solidmatter freed or drilled out by the cutting head i0. The operations maycontinue until the sand bridge or accumulation of solid matter iscompletely removed from the' well bore or the -well liner. yHaving'described only typical preferred forms Aand vapplications of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself- '1 anyvariations or modifications that may appear to those skilled. in the artor fail within thev cope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, Iv claim: 1. A well tool for use on awell string comprisrial in a well, a body reciprocable relative to thehead, a spring'loaded hammer element, means operable upon movement ofthe body relative to the head to release the element to strike the head,and pump means operable upon reciprocation oi' thebody for pumping awaythe material freed ,by the head.

f 3; A tool operable by a reciprocatory well string for removing solidmaterial from a well commeans actuated by downward movement of the f andoperable to pump away the material of the bridge freed by the cuttinghead.

6. A well tool of thecharacter described comprising a cutting head foracting on solid matter in a well, a well string, means operable byreciprocation of the well'string for imparting a "y ing a cutting head,spring actuated'means operprising a cutting head for acting on thematerial in Ithe/well, a body associated with the string to be movedthereby and movable vertically rela- 4 tive to the head, a hammerelement for driving the head against the solid material, spring meansfor actuating the hammer element, releasable means holdin-g the hammerelement against operation, -means operable to release the releasablemeans upon ,downward movement of the stringV and body relative to thehead, and pump means associated with the body operable upon upward'movement of the stringl and body to pump up- .wardly the solid materialfreed by the head.

4. A tool for use on a reciprocatory well string comprising a cuttinghead for acting on material in a well, a body connected with the stringto be mov'able vertically thereby relative to the f head, an anvil partrigid with the head, :a hammer element for hammering against the anvilparti to drive the head against solid material in the `well--a springarranged under compression between the bodyv and the hammer element foractuating the hammer element, releasable 'means holding the hammerelement against downward movement relative to the head whereby downto:actuate the same, latch controlled spring hammering action to the headso that the head frees the solid matter, the head and said means havinga passage leading vupwardly from the head, pump means for pumpingmaterial freed by the head upwardly from the head through the passageand actuated by said'reciprocation of the string whereby the pump meansis operated simultaneously with said hammering of the head, and acontainer for receiving and retaining said material thus through thepassage.

7. A tool for use on a well string comprising a cutting head for actingon solid material in the well, a stem on the cutting head, a bodyconnectedv with the stem for relative vertical movement, an anvil parton the stem, a shiftable hammer element in the body for striking theanvil part, releasable means holding the hammer element against movementtoward the anvil part, a. releasing member on the body operable torelease the releasable means when the body is moved downwardly a givenldistance relative to the stem, a spring in the body com'- pressedagainst the hammer element during said downward movement of the body todrivethe hammer element against the anvil part when the releasable meansis released, and pump means connecting the body with the string actuatedby upward and downward movement of the string to pump away the solidmatter loosened by the cutting head. 4 l 8. A tool for use on a wellstring comprising a cutting head for acting on solid material in a"vwell, a stem on the cutting head, a body connected with the stem forrelative vertical movement, an anvil part on the stem, a shiftablehammer element in the body for striking the anvil part, releasable meansholding the hammer element against movement toward the anvil part, areleasing member on the body operable to release the releasable meanswhen the body is moved downwardly a given distance relative to the stem,the stem having a passage leading up-T wardly from the head, a tubularplunger connected to the body to receive ymaterial from the passage, anda barrel reciprocable on the plunger to pump material up through the'passage from the head and cooperable with the plunger to transmitvertical movement to the body.

9. A tool for use on a well string comprising a cutting head for actingon solid material, a stem Y on the cuttinghead, a body-connected withthe stem for relative vertical movement, an anvil part on the stem, ashiftable hammer element in the body for striking the anvil part,releasable pumped upwardly comprising two elements one a barrel, theother a plunger, and means connecting one pump element with the body toreceive the fluid from the passage, the well string being connected withthe other element for operating the pump means and for operating thebody.

10. A tool for use on a. Well string comprising a cutting head, a stemrigid with the cutting head, a, body connected with the stem forrelative vertical movement, anV anvil part on the stem, a shiftablehammer element in the body for. striking theanvil part, releasable meansholding the hammer element against movement toward the anvil part, areleasing member on the body operable to release the releasable meanswhen the body is moved downwardly a given dis- Vtance relative to thestem, the stem having a wel1 string with the body to operate the sameand operable to circulate uid upwardly through saidopening and passageupon reciprocation ot the string.

11. A tool of the character described comprising a reciprocable wellstring, a cutting head. a hollow body reciprocable relative to the head.a tubular stem carrying the head and received in the body, a hammerelement in the body for Y striking the stem to actuate the head,` latchcontrolled spring means in the body actuated by downward movement of thebody to drive the hammer element against the stem, means operated byupward movement yof Ithe body for resetting the spring means. and pumpmeans connecting the body with the string-and communicating with thestem to pump the' treed solid material upwardly upon said up and downmovement of the body.

ARTHUR L. ARMENI'ROUT.

